Things to consider when buying an OLED TV
OLED TVs may offer stunning picture quality, with deep blacks and vibrant colours, but choosing one can be daunting, thanks to a preponderance of jargon and tech specs.
But you don’t need to be a tech expert to master the key details, including resolution, HDR, refresh rates, and smart features.
Resolution
Every current OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) TV offers 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels) resolution (also known as ultrahighdefinition), so their pictures are far sharper than oldschool highdefinition models.
HDR (High Dynamic Range)
Similarly, HDR offers better peak brightness and more nuanced shadow detail. It enhances contrast and colour and comes in various flavours. HDR10 is the basic version, while Dolby Vision, favoured by film fans, is more advanced because it’s able to optimise images on a scenebyscene basis. HDR10+ is similar to Dolby Vision and is favoured by Prime Video.
Screen size
When it comes to screen size, pick a model that suits your living space, and then go one size up. Remember that there’s a relationship between screen size and picture resolution. Simply put, the bigger the screen, the more detail you’ll see in its images. 55 to 65 inches is the norm, but increasingly buyers are gravitating to superlarge 77inch models. The bigger your OLED TV, the better it will look.
Refresh rates
Refresh rates only become important when you’re buying a set for gaming. 120Hz is optimum for fastmoving games on the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S. Some OLED TVs have two High Frame Ratecapable HDMI inputs, while others have four. If you see eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) listed, that’s the connection you’ll use to connect a soundbar.
Sound performance
The biggest difference between various OLED models is often their sound system. Highend designs offer some sort of cinemastyle Dolby Atmos immersive audio. Others have basic stereo.
Smart features
All OLED TVs come equipped with a smart operating system, making it easy to access streaming apps like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and Apple TV+, and they’ll often be able to control smart home devices too.
Popular platforms include LG webOS, Google TV and Android TV, Samsung Tizen and Amazon Fire TV. There’s not a great deal between them, although you may have a preference if you’ve used one particular interface previously.
Port selection
Planning on connecting one of the best TV streaming devices, a Sky box, a gaming console, external speakers, an internet cable or a pair of the best wired headphones? You’re going to need to check what ports the TV has. All models on our list have four HDMI ports, but you may want to keep an eye out for Ethernet, USB, optical audio output and a headphone jack, too.
